Dune du Pilat
The tallest sand dune in Europe - a vast wave of pale sand rising a hundred metres between forest and the Atlantic on the Arcachon Bay.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
The Dune du Pilat is the tallest sand dune in Europe, a vast, slowly migrating wave of pale sand rising over a hundred metres from the Atlantic shore near Arcachon, wedged between a great pine forest on one side and the ocean and its sandbanks on the other. Climbing it for the sweeping view over bay, forest and sea is a highlight of the south-west coast.
What you actually see
- The great dune - the vast pale sand dune, the tallest in Europe, to climb.
- The view - the sweep over the Atlantic, the sandbanks and the pine forest.
- The forest and ocean - the contrast of dark pines and open sea on each side.
- Paragliding - the gliders that launch from the dune's crest.
When to go
Late spring to early autumn for the beach and the climb; sunset from the crest is spectacular. Summer is busy and the sand fiercely hot at midday.
Honest expectations
Climbing the soft sand is harder than it looks, though a seasonal staircase helps in summer. It is very popular, so it is busy and parking fills in season. The sand gets scorching in the midday summer heat.
Nearby
Arcachon and its oyster beds are nearby; the Bordeaux wine country lies inland.
What to pack for Dune du Pilat
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
